Power brushes for washing automobiles and the like



Jan. 22, 1963 w. o. WILLIAMS 3,074,088

POWER BRUSHES FOR WASHING AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 1, 1960 @am BY @i @4 M ATTP/VEY 3,074,088 PWER BRUSHES FOR WASHNG AUT@- Cie-lima. (Cl. l5-29) This invention relates to improvements in power brushes particularly adapted for use in washing automobiles, windows and other items requiring a gentle but adequate scrubbing action for thorough cleansing, the instant invention being an improvement over the power brush disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 2,759,208 issued to Walter O. Williams, the applicant herein, on August 21, 1956.

The primary objects of this invention is to provide a power brush including a fixed and a rotary brush element for washing automobiles and the like which has improved power means for rotating the rotary brush element thereof which reduces to a minimum the stall factor of the rotary brush element when the power brush is used with relatively low water pressure, to provide an improved wash water distribution and throw-out of wash water through and around the rotary brush element within the resilient squeegee ring surrounding the said rotary brush element and to the fixed brush element, and to otherwise improve and simplify the power brush of the applicants earlier hereinabove identified patent to the end that both infinitely greater economy in manufacture and superior performance are obtained.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a power brush embodying the invention, a portion being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG. l showing the wash water throw-out batlies employed above and spaced from the turbine rotor.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the particular power brush disclosed for illustrative purpose consists of depending relatively at dome shaped turbine housing lili of plastic or other suitable material having a downwardly disposed central bearing boss lll therein forming an annular turbine charnber 100. An angularly upwardly disposed handle receiving sleeve 12 extends from the upper rear portion of said dome shaped housing 10. The lower end of a tubular metal handle 13 is telescoped in the handle receiving sleeve 12, and, as best shown in FIG. 2, the said tubular handle 13 is formed near its lower end at 135i to accommodate an O-ring seal 131 for the purpose of preventing leakage of water passing through the tubular handle 13 into the turbine housing as hereinafter described. The handle receiving sleeve 12 is provided with a boss 12b to accommodate a set screw 121 threaded into a boss 132 formed in the tubular handle 13. The said tubular handle i3 is preferably covered by a resilient rubber sheath l@ to prevent marring or denting of an automobile body or the like if accidentally struck thereby.

At the free end of the tubular handle 13 is a suitable hose connection, not shown, by means of which the said tubular handle 13 may be connected to a source of water under pressure, preferably city water pressure which generally is at from to 60 p.s.i., all according to the particular locale. Obviously, any suitable Valve means and/ or soap or detergent supply may be employed in the hose i i. t@

connection or elsewhere in the hydraulic supply. However, since such means are conventional and form no part of the instant invention, they need not be described in detail herein.

The said annular depending dome shaped turbine housing iti is provided with a laterally extending peripheral portion 101 which is bored at its bottom at suitable staggered intervals to accommodate brush bristle clusters 15@ which are cemented in said bores, thus providing an annular fixed brush element l5 depending from the bottom of the said annular peripheral portion lill of the turbine housing itl. The outer periphery of the said annular peripheral portion 2l01 of the turbine housing 10 is preferably covered with a suitable resilient rubber bumper to prevent accidental scratching or other damage to an object being washed by a power brush embodying the invention.

A turbine wheel or impeller 20 also preferably formed of plastic is generally dish shaped and has a relatively thick bottom Ztitl with a central boss 2l ybored at 211 to receive a sleeve type bushing 22. A bearing 23 which is headed at its lower end 230 has its upper shouldered end 231 pressed or otherwise anchored into a bore Mt) provided in the central bearing boss l1 of the dome shaped turbine housing lil. The said impeller 26 has a peripheral lip 203 extending radially outwardly from the upper periphery of the said relatively thick bottom 2% thereof. Formed above the top of the impeller lip 203 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced preferably somewhat arcuate tin type impeller blades or buckets 204.

Depending from the dome shaped turbine housing 1t) and preferably formed integral therewith are one or preferably a pair of baffles 102 extending radially outwardly from the central bearing boss il and stopping short of the radially inner edges of the impeller blades 204. By reference to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the upstream side i020 of each baffle M2 is tapered to deflect water downwardly from the dome shaped turbine housing 1t) against the top of the impeller 20 at the annular cavity 2M therein above the relatively thick bottom 2% thereof. The said baffles M2 are preferably located approximately degrees and 225 degrees in the direction of rotation R of the impeller Ztl from the handle receiving sleeve 12 and the jets 40 and di. lt is to be understood that the foregoing angular locations of the bales 102 may be varied as much as l5 degrees to 45 degrees as found to be desirable according to impeller, jet and water outlet aperture sizes and proportions.

The said central bottom 200 of the turbine wheel or impeller 2t? is provided with a plurality of downwardly open suitably spaced and staggered bores to accommodate rotary brush bristle clusters i7@ which are. cemented in the said bores, thus providing a circular rotary brush element i7 depending from the bottom Zitti of the said impeller 2t).

The impeller 2t) is provided with a plurality of radially outwardly and axially downwardly outlet apertures 266 therethrough located at the outer periphery of the annular cavity 201 therein above the said bottom 200 thereof. rl`he impeller 2th also is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed outlet apertures 207 extending 4through. the said bottom 200 thereof and located between selected bristle clusters ll7tl of the circular rotary brush element 17.

Between the outer annular fixed brush element l5 and the inner circular rotary brush element l17 is an annular squeegee pressure ring Sti around the bottom of which is mounted a resilient annular squeegee 3l.. The said squeegee pressure ring Sil is preferably provided with a plurality of mounting ears 32 and suitable studs 33 by means of which it is mounted on the bottom of the periphery of the depending dome shaped housing 2d inwardly of the fixed brush element l5 at the bottom of the outer drives the impeller Ztl powerfully at relatively high speed in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 1. Water leaving the impeller blades Zilli collects in the inverted dome shaped turbine housing lil in the annular cavity 2M above the central portion Zhi? of the impeller Ztl from whence it is expelled through the outlet apertures 266 and 297 in the impeller Ztl, as well as through the clearance 42 between the outer periphery of the impeller 2t? and the inner periphery of the annular depending dome shaped turbine housing lo. j

Tliusly, by reference to FlGS. l and 2, it will be observed that arportion of the water passing through the turbine impeller 20 is directed diagonally outwardly to the annular ixed brush element i5 outside the squeegee ring 31 while another portion of the water passing through the turbine impeller Ztl is directedrdownwardly through the rotary brush element 17 within the squeegee ring 31. This not only provides means for avoiding excess water back pressure at the turbine but it assures that water is available at all times to both the xed lbrushelementla" and rotary brush element 17, but prevents an accumula' tion of dirt and grit in either the lixed brush element l5' or the rotary brush element i7, and thereby thoroughly prevents minute scratching of paint surfaces normally occurring in power brush washing operations.

lt is important for perfection in operation of the improved power brush herein disclosed that the bottom of the fixed brush be disposed at the lowest elevation, that the bottom of the rotary brush 17 be disposed a short height above the bottom of the fixed brush l5, and that the bottom of the annular squeegee 31 be disposed a short height above the bottom o the rotary brush i7, all asbest shown in FIG, 2. Y

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described herein, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail of the various elements of the invention, all within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: f

l. In a power brush of the class described, a'dome shaped housing including a tubular sleeve through which water under pressure is supplied thereto, a central depending boss and an annular outer peripheral portion with a fixed brush element depending therefrom, a dish shaped I turbine impeller having a liat central bottom portion with an elevated circumferential lip disposed outwardly therefrom and an upwardly disposed central boss, the said turbine impeller including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially disposed curved blades extending upwardly therefrom at the outer periphery of said circum ferential lip, means rotatably mounting said impeller at its central upwardly disposed boss to said central boss in said dome shaped housing forming an annular turbine chamber, said impeller including a rotatable brush depending from the central bottom portion thereof a distance less than the depth of the fixed brush element, a squeegee ring including a resilient squeegee thereon mounted on said dome shaped housing in depending spaced relationship therefrom with the bottom of said resilient squeegee disposed below said dome shaped housing a distance less than the depth o the said rotatable brush element, said dome shaped housing having a plurality of jets therein at said tubular sleeve directing water from said handle means'to said turbine impeller blades to rotate the same,

the said impeller having a plurality of diagonally outwardly and downwardly disposed water outlet apertures therethrough substantially at the juncture of the llat central bottom and said elevated circumferential lip thereof through which a portion of the water in said turbine chamber is discharged between said Squeegee ring and said housing through the iixed brush element, the said impeller also having a plurality of vertically disposed water apertures therethrough in the flat bottom central Portion thereof through which another portion of water in said turbine chamber is discharged through the rotatable brush element.

2. In a power brush as claimed in claim l including a radially dispo-sed baille depending from the inside of said dome shaped housing extending radially from the depending central boss thereof substantially to the turbine blades of said turbine impeller at an angle of from 30 to 9i) degrees in the direction of rotation of the mpeller from the location of said jets.

3. ln a power brush as claimed in claim l including a pair of radially disposed baies depending from the inside of said dome shaped housing extending radially from the said depending boss thereof substantially to the turbine blades oi` said turbine impeller, each said baliie being located respectively at an angle of from 30 to 90 degrees and at an angle of to 270 degrees in the direction of rotation of the impeller from the location of said jets.

4. ln a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housing including a depending central boss, a tubular sleeve through which `water under pressure is supplied thereto and an annular outer peripheral portion with a iixed brush element depending therefrom, a turbine iinpeller including a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally radially disposed blades' extending upwardly therefrom at the outer periphery thereof rotatably mounted in said dome shaped housing at said depending central boss and forming a turbine chamber, said impeller including a rotatable brush depending therefrom a distance less than the depth or" the lixed brush element, aksqueegee ring yincluding a resilient squeegeeY thereon mounted on said dome shaped housing in depending spaced relationship therefrom with the botto-m ofsad resilient squeegee disposed below said dome Yshaped hous ing a distance less than the depth of the said rotatable brush element, said domeshaped housing having a plurality of jets therein at said tubular sleeve directing water under pressure from said tubular sleeye to said turbine impeller blades to rotate the same, the said impeller hav# ing a plurality diagonally outwardly andpdownwardly disposed water outlet apertures therethrough through which. a portion of the water in said turbine chamber is dis-'j charged between the top of said squeegee ring and` said housing to the fixed brush element, the said impeller also having a plurality of vertically disposed water outlet apertures therethrough through which another portion oi water in said turbine chamber is discharged through the rotatable brush element, and a radially disposed baille depending from the inside of said dome shaped housing extending radially from the depending central' boss thereof substantially to the turbine blades of said turbine impeller at an angle of from 30 to 9() degrees in the direction of impeller rotation from the location of said jets.

5. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housing including ya depending central boss, a tubular sleeve through which water under pressure is sup'- plied thereto and an annular outer peripheral portion with a fixed brush element depending therefrom, a turbine impeller including'a plurality of circumferentially spaced generally radially disposed blades extending upwardly therefrom at the outer periphery thereof rotatably mount ed in said dome shaped housing at said ldepending central boss and forming a turbine chamber, said impeller including a rotatable brush depending therefrom a distance less than the depth of the fixed brush element, a squeegee ring including a resilient squeegee thereon mounted on said dome shaped housing in depending spaced relationship therefrom with the bottom of said resilient squeegee disposed below said dome shaped housing a distance less than the depth of the said rotatable brush element, said `dome shaped housing having a plurality of jets therein at said tubular sleeve directing water under pressure from said tubular sleeve to said turbine impeller yblades to rotate the same, the said impeller having a plurality diagonally Voutwardly and downwardly disposed water outlet `apertures therethrough through which a portion of the water in said turbine chamber is discharged between the top of said squeegee ring and said housing to the fixed brush element, the said impeller also having -a plurality of vertically disposed water outlet apertures therethrough through which another portion of water in said turbine chamber is discharged through the rotatable brush element, and .a pair of radially disposed bafes depending 4from the inside of said dome shaped housing extending radially from the said depending central boss thereof substantially to the turbine blades of said turbine impeller, each said bail'le being located respectively -at an angle of -from 30 to 90 degrees and from 90 to 270 degrees in the direction of impeller rotation from the location of said jets.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,372,308 MacRae Mar. 22, 1921 1,375,102 Masser Apr. 19, 1921 2,744,271 Florence May 8, 1956 2,759,208 Williams Aug. 2l, 1956 

1. IN A POWER BRUSH OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A DOME SHAPED HOUSING INCLUDING A TUBULAR SLEEVE THROUGH WHICH WATER UNDER PRESSURE IS SUPPLIED THERETO, A CENTRAL DEPENDING BOSS AND AN ANNULAR OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTION WITH A FIXED BRUSH ELEMENT DEPENDING THEREFROM, A DISH SHAPED TURBINE IMPELLER HAVING A FLAT CENTRAL BOTTOM PORTION WITH AN ELEVATED CIRCUMFERENTIAL LIP DISPOSED OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AND AN UPWARDLY DISPOSED CENTRAL BOSS, THE SAID TURBINE IMPELLER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RADIALLY DISPOSED CURVED BLADES EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL LIP, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID IMPELLER AT ITS CENTRAL UPWARDLY DISPOSED BOSS TO SAID CENTRAL BOSS IN SAID DOME SHAPED HOUSING FORMING AN ANNULAR TURBINE CHAMBER, SAID IMPELLER INCLUDING A ROTATABLE BRUSH DEPENDING FROM THE CENTRAL BOTTOM PORTION THEREOF A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE DEPTH OF THE FIXED BRUSH ELEMENT, A SQUEEGEE RING INCLUDING A RESILIENT SQUEEGEE THEREON MOUNTED ON SAID DOME SHAPED HOUSING IN DEPENDING SPACED RELATIONSHIP THEREFROM WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID RESILIENT SQUEEGEE DISPOSED BELOW SAID DOME SHAPED HOUSING A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE DEPTH OF THE SAID ROTATABLE BRUSH ELEMENT, SAID DOME SHAPED HOUSING HAVING A PLURALITY OF JETS THEREIN AT SAID TUBULAR SLEEVE DIRECTING WATER FROM SAID HANDLE MEANS TO SAID TURBINE IMPELLER BLADES TO ROTATE THE SAME, THE SAID IMPELLER HAVING A PLURALITY OF DIAGONALLY OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DISPOSED WATER OUTLET APERTURES THERETHROUGH SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE FLAT CENTRAL BOTTOM AND SAID ELEVATED CIRCUMFERENTIAL LIP THEREOF THROUGH WHICH A PORTION OF THE WATER IN SAID TURBINE CHAMBER IS DISCHARGED BETWEEN SAID SQUEEGEE RING AND SAID HOUSING THROUGH THE FIXED BRUSH ELEMENT, THE SAID IMPELLER ALSO HAVING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED WATER APERTURES THERETHROUGH IN THE FLAT BOTTOM CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF THROUGH WHICH ANOTHER PORTION OF WATER IN SAID TURBINE CHAMBER IS DISCHARGED THROUGH THE ROTATABLE BRUSH ELEMENT. 